Topic by Bellyman

  • Avatar
  • Bellyman
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 26-11-2024
  • Posts: 27

Topic: License question

I'm considering making my desktop either a double boot setup (Windows / Linux) or going to 100% Linux. I believe Pianoteq can run just fine on either platform.

My question has to do with the licensing. Will I still be considered using only one of three if I use the same computer for EITHER Linux or Windows if I do a dual boot setup? I can only run one OS at a time and it is one computer. But if it burns through two of three, I may not want to set it up so that Pianoteq runs on both. (I wouldn't mind comparing performance.)

If I just switch over to Linux and dump Windows completely, will Pianoteq recognize it as the same old computer and remain as one use? Or will it require the second use of it for the Linux? If I deactivated it on Windows to free up a use, I'd never be able to reverse that, would I, at least not on that computer?

I did download the second use on an iPad Air that I may use for live performance. Have a gig in a couple of weeks where I wanna try it out. But I'm not as thrilled with that as I thought I might be. The iPad version loses features over the desktop versions that I didn't realize. Am wondering if I'd have been happier with a Mac Mini and a USB monitor that sits nicely on a music stand. Oh, well. I may still wanna do the Mac Mini more for studio work but I can see this stretching past the 3 use limit. It's why I ask about the Windows / Linux thing.

All that said, I do not intend to use any of it more than just one use at a time. It's just that I tend to use it in different settings and it's nice to have flexibility there.

Anybody have thoughts you can share? Mostly it's about using the old computer and changing over to Linux. It actually works well on this particular machine but the machine is old enough that it won't properly run Win 11 and I'm not wanting to upgrade the hardware just for that. I know, there are workarounds. But I like Windows less and less with each new version. Just the iPad was my first Apple product, and I may continue with that trend, not sure, but perhaps veering off the topic.

Thanks!

Reply by Shuttle

  • Avatar
  • Shuttle
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 11-08-2025
  • Posts: 3

Re: License question

In the license section it states:

"If you will reformat or upgrade your operating system, you should not deactivate since the new installation will use the same activation slot"

So I assume the license activation is hardware based.

But even if it is not the case you can simply try and if it takes up 2 slots you can deactivate one by the press of a button in your Moddartt account.

Reply by Chopin87

  • Avatar
  • Chopin87
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 18-10-2012
  • Posts: 331

Re: License question

Short answer because I switched to Linux last year just for curiosity but ended up using it as my primary OS, it counts as two slot (one per Windows, one per Linux) despite being the same hardware. In any case should a problem arise I think you can contact support for any help if you regret your decision.

"And live to be the show and gaze o' the time."  (William Shakespeare)

Reply by marcos daniel

  • Avatar
  • marcos daniel
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 02-09-2014
  • Posts: 283

Re: License question

Chopin87 wrote:

Short answer because I switched to Linux last year just for curiosity but ended up using it as my primary OS, it counts as two slot (one per Windows, one per Linux) despite being the same hardware. In any case should a problem arise I think you can contact support for any help if you regret your decision.

I have just the opposite case: the same machine uses just the same single slot for Windows and Linux.

Edit: I always use the automatic activation option.

Last edited by marcos daniel (31-08-2025 15:51)

Reply by Chopin87

  • Avatar
  • Chopin87
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 18-10-2012
  • Posts: 331

Re: License question

marcos daniel wrote:
Chopin87 wrote:

Short answer because I switched to Linux last year just for curiosity but ended up using it as my primary OS, it counts as two slot (one per Windows, one per Linux) despite being the same hardware. In any case should a problem arise I think you can contact support for any help if you regret your decision.

I have just the opposite case: the same machine uses just the same single slot for Windows and Linux.

Edit: I always use the automatic activation option.

I honestly had to double check after your message so I logged into my account and you're right and I am wrong, as of today only one slot is taken. I find that weird though, I remember clearly a year ago when I made the switch it was actually two slots, in fact I had to rename the second license Fedora-Desktop (the first one being just Desktop for the Win OS) so something must have changed meanwhile. Either that or I am going fully senile and making up stuff. The next step would eventually be to boot Windows after a year and see what's the status of the license there but I don't wanna get stuck in the usual 1 hour update process just to check.
I also used the automatic activation since it's quicker.

Last edited by Chopin87 (31-08-2025 18:44)
"And live to be the show and gaze o' the time."  (William Shakespeare)